June 2022 by The Senior Voice

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Published Locally Since 1980

WHERE THE WORLD STAYS

young

June 2022

2 • The Senior Voice • June 2022

Published Locally Since 1980 Vol. 42, No. 7

Online at www.theseniorvoice.net PUBLICATION INFORMATION The Senior Voice is locally owned and has been published the first of each month since 1980 for residents in Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland and nearby areas. ADVERTISING Ad deadline is 20th of month. For rates, call 970-229-9204; email wolf@theseniorvoice.net or see www.theseniorvoice.net

Wolfgang Lambdin Publisher and Advertising Director

Fort Collins, Colorado (970) 229-9204 wolf@theseniorvoice.net EDITORIAL DEADLINE: Announcements and stories must be received by the 10th of the month; ads by the 20th of the month. READER INFORMATION: Subscriptions $48 a year. Writers' opinions are not necessarily those of The Senior Voice. EDITORIAL OFFICE: (970) 229-9204 email: lambdin@frii.com www.theseniorvoice.net Design Production by Ellen Bryant Design ellen@ellenbryantdesign.com © Copyright 2022 The Senior Voice No material may be reproduced by any means without permission of the Senior Voice. William and Peggy Lambdin Founders, 1980

Where the World Stays Young By Bill Lambdin Estes Park resident Enos Mills was a remarkable man and one of the most popular early naturalists in America. Some called him the John Muir of the Rockies. Others called him the father of Rocky Mountain National Park, which he helped establish. In 1884 at age 14, he came to Estes Park from Kansas and built a log cabin just east of Longs Peak. You can still visit the cabin. He climbed Longs Peak over 200 times, usually guiding tourists. Sometimes he climbed it twice a day or at night, and when winds were blowing over 100 miles an hour. Mills loved adventure and admitted he nearly lost his life several times seeking thrills in the mountains. He was also a skilled woodsman who could survive in the high country for days with no shelter or blankets, eating nothing but raisins or native plants. He may have been the first to trek the Continental Divide the entire length of Colorado, from the Wyoming border to New Mexico. In 1889 at age 19, he met naturalist John Muir, who was then in his 50s. That meeting greatly influenced Mills’ life. From then on, he dedicated himself to preserving the natural wonders of Colorado, especially the mountains above Estes Park. Making extensive use of libraries, he taught himself the things he needed to become a first-rate naturalist. Within a few years, he was writing and lecturing. Officials with the U.S. Forest Service were so impressed by his work that they made him a lecturer for the agency. He traveled throughout the U.S. and gave over 2,000 lectures in a few short years. He wrote 15 books and countless articles for America’s popular magazines. People loved his stories about en-

Enos Mills’ cabin. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Mills. counters with grizzly bears, being caught in avalanches, riding the tops of trees in wind storms. In 1902 he bought the Longs Peak Inn near the base of Longs Peak. The inn was a popular place for people wanting to vacation in a pristine mountain setting. Guests included John D. Rockefeller and many other famous people. They took hikes with Mills and listened to him praise the splendor of the mountains. One guest became Mills’ wife. Esther Burnell was a beautiful, 27-year-old woman who had become a successful interior decorator on the East Coast. But in 1916, she wanted to escape the stress of that life and came to Estes Park. She stayed at Mills’ Longs Peak Inn for a while, then built a small house nearby. She helped Mills prepare books and articles, and she married him in 1918 even though he was 20 years older than she. In 1920 they had a daughter, Enda (not Edna. Enda means sunshine), their only child. Mills’ wedding ceremony was held at the cabin he had built when he first came to Estes in 1884. He later said, “All the great happinesses of my life have seemed to center around that little cabin I built in boyhood.” But things changed. He died

at age 52 from blood poisoning after surgery for an infected tooth and jaw. He was buried next to the cabin. He had dedicated his life to saving wild places and sharing his love of the outdoors. At his funeral, someone said a little child sobbed and asked, “What will the mountains do without Mr. Mills?” Here is an excerpt from one of his essays, showing how eloquently he could describe his beloved mountains: “The mountain ram poses on the cliff. The laughing, varied voice of the coyote echoes when the afterglow falls...The cheerful chipmunk frolics and never grows up. Here the world stays young.” Mills said one of his most memorable climbs of Longs Peak was with a little girl who asked, “What lives at the top?” For him, it must have been a spirit that called him to the mountains—where the world stayed young. ________________ COVER PICTURE. Enos Mills’ cabin still stands near a small museum dedicated to him. Email info@enosmills.com; call 970.586.4706. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Mills. 

June 2022 • The Senior Voice • 3

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4 • The Senior Voice • June 2022

A RElic in Wyoming Editor’s Note: Wyoming historian Margaret Laybourn wrote this story years ago.)

West of Laramie, Wyoming, in the valley of the Laramie River and in the shadow of Jelm Mountain near Woods Landing, a small church stands, steeple pointing to the sky. The bell is gone from the steeple, but the church is easily recognizable as a relic of a former community called Cummins. The church was built in the early 1870s when the mining boom was beginning in the area. A man called Cummins, who planned the town, was an opportunist who sold the mining rights to a Colorado company for $10,000. The Denver Corporation

then sold $1 million in stock in copper speculation.

Cummins was a flim-flam man who fled to Texas with the $10,000 after it was discovered that he had “salted” the area. The Cummins community is now called Old Jelm after a local miner because settlers wanted to get rid of the Cummins name. Old Jelm was owned by the Holland family of Laramie and is listed on the National Historic Register. The church can be seen from Wyoming Highway 10 about four miles south of Woods Landing, where the Jelm Post Office was located. 

The Woods Landing area in Wyoming. Photographer unkown.

Historic

STAGE STATION By Marcie Wells

The Virginia Dale Community Club’s 26th Annual Open House will be held on June 11 at the 1862 Virginia Dale Overland Stage Station and the 1906 Hurzeler House. Now 160 years old, the Stage Station was built by the famous Jack Slade and is a designated National Historic Site. It was a Home Station (meals and overnight lodging) for the Overland Stage Line and has been in continual use by the Virginia Dale ranching residents, their families and friends as their Community Center. Each year the Virginia Dale Community Club, whose members own the Stage Station and the adjoining Hurzeler House, have an Open House to celebrate the Stage Station’s historical significance, the rural way of life, and to raise funds for the continued maintenance of the Stage Station so that many more future generations can enjoy its unique heritage. There is no admission fee, but a donation of work gloves or canned goods for Harvest Farm in Wellington would be greatly appreciated. The event opens at 9 AM. At 9:30 there will be readings from actual Civil War letters. At 10:00 there is a Vintage Base Ball Game (1864 rules) between the Star Base Ball Club of the Colorado Territory and the Slade Sluggers from Virginia Dale. This will be a rematch as the Sluggers lost by1 run last year. This year we celebrate the Storytellers. Fred Rodriquez of the Lakota Nation will give a talk on “Origins of The People,” and there will be drumming and dancing following his talk by tribal members. Historical speakers include Ken Jessen, speaking on Jack Slade; and Eva Sue Littleton, portraying Virginia Slade. There will be a Craft show, live music

by “Needle ‘n’ Thread,” food and old-fashioned kids’ games. Tickets will be on sale for the club’s December Quilt & Rifle Raffle. The quilt and the Henry.22-gauge rifle will be on display. Tickets for the raffles are also available by calling 970-4951828 or e-mailing VDCC8922@ gmail.com. All proceeds from the event go towards the maintenance of the Stage Station and Hurzeler House. Lunch will be served from 11AM-2 PM. The Buckeye Buck’n’Ears 4-H will be selling cold drinks. Please be aware that many of the vendors do not have the equipment to process credit cards. Cash and checks are accepted. SCHEDULE 9:30 Presentation of the flag by Cub Scout Troop 136 from Laramie 9:30 Reading of Civil War letters. 10:00 Vintage Baseball game in the south pasture. 11:30 Fred Rodriguez Lakota Origin Stories followed by Lakota drumming and dancing sponsored by Calvin Standing Bear, Jr. 1:00 event to be determined. 2:00 Ken Jessen speaking on Jack Slade. 3:00 Eva Sue Littleton as Virginia Slade. The Virginia Dale Stage Station is located 4 miles south of the Wyoming border just off US Hwy 287. Turn onto County Road 43F at the stone pillared Memorial Plaque. Turn left at the “Y” in the road. The Stage Station is one mile down the road. Limited Handicapped parking will be available. Visit www. virginiadalecommunityclub.org, or call Sylvia Garofalo 970-4951828 or Marcie Wells 970-6913477 for more information. 

June 2022 • The Senior Voice • 5

World Famous 61th Annual

Woodchoppers Jamboree & Rodeo ENCAMPMENT, WYOMING

Saturday & Sunday • June 18 & 19, 2022 All Events Admission $10, children under 12 FREE Sponsored by Encampment-Riverside Lions Club Produced in cooperation with Carbon County Visitors Council No Coolers Allowed - All proceeds will be used for Civic Projects

Woodchopping Events

Beginning at 10am Saturday, 9am Sunday

Over $4,000 added purse for Woodchopping Events

Info: woodchoppers@rocketmail.com 970.210.2955 or 307.327.5429

WRA Rodeo

Co-Sanctioned by CPRA Beginning at 1:00 PM Saturday and Sunday

Local and WRA entries www.wyomingrodeoassociation.org.

Parade

Saturday, 9am

Pancake and Sausage Breakfast Saturday, 7am

See the Cheyenne Trotters Equestrian Team at the parade and rodeo

Melodrama

Friday & Saturday, 7pm Opera House

Firehouse

Barbecue

Saturday & Sunday beginning at 11:30am (separate charge)

Kids’ Events!!!

Greased Pole, Saw Dust Pit & More! 101ST ANNIVERSARY of the VIRGINIA DALE COMMUNITY CLUB

’

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: VirginiaDaleCommunityClub.org | facebook.com/VDStageStation | 970-495-1828

6 • The Senior Voice • June 2022

YOUR MEDICAL BILLS By Dan Weissmann

with your notes on it. Consider also shooting a video of yourself with the form, describing how it violates federal law.

Kaiser Health News Patients are no longer required to pay for out-of-network care given without their consent when they receive treatment at hospitals covered by their health insurance since a new federal law took effect.

Report it! There is a federal hotline (1-800-985-3059) and a website for reporting all violations of the new law barring surprise bills (cms.gov/nosurprises). Both the hotline and website help patients figure out what to do, as well as collect complaints.

But the law’s protections against the infuriating, expensive scourge of surprise medical bills may be only as good as a patient’s knowledge — and ability to make sure those protections are enforced. Here’s what you need to know. Studies have shown that about 1 in 5 emergency room visits result in a surprise bill. Surprise bills frequently come from emergency room doctors and anesthesiologists, among others — specialists who are often outside a patient’s insurance network and not chosen by the patient. Before the law took effect, the problem went something like this: Say you needed surgery. You picked an in-network hospital — that is, one that accepts your health plan and has negotiated prices with your insurer. But one of the doctors who treated you didn’t take your insurance. SURPRISE! You got a big bill, separate from the bills from the hospital and other doctors. Your insurer didn’t cover much of it, or denied the claim outright. You were expected to pay the balance. The new law stipulates that patients who seek care from an in-network hospital cannot be billed more than the negotiated, in-network rate for any out-of-network services they receive there. Instead of leaving the patient with an unexpected bill that insurance will not cover, the law says the insurance company and the health care provider must work

out how the bill gets paid. But the law builds in wiggle room for providers who wish to try end runs around the protections. Although the law’s protections apply to hospitals, they do not apply at many other places, like doctors’ offices, birthing centers, or most urgent care clinics. Air ambulances, often a source of exorbitant out-of-network bills, are covered by the law. But ground ambulances Patients need to keep their heads up to avoid pitfalls that remain, said Patricia Kelmarwith with Public Interest Research Group. Say you go for your annual checkup, and your doctor wants to run tests. Conveniently, there’s a lab right down the hall. But the lab may be out of network — despite sharing office space with your in-network doctor. Even with the new law in effect, that lab doesn’t have to warn you it is out of network. Out-of-network providers may present patients with a form

addressing their protections from unexpected bills labeled “Surprise Billing Protection Form.” Signing it waives those protections and instead consents to treatment at outof-network rates. “The form title should be something like the I’m Giving Away All of My Surprise Billing Protections When I Sign This Form, because that’s really what it is,” Kelmar said. Keep your antennae up on costs. Many patients report they are merely handed an iPad for recording their signature in emergency rooms and doctors’ offices. Insist on seeing the form behind the signature so you know exactly what you are signing. If you notice a problem, don’t sign, Kelmar said. But if you find yourself in a jam — say, because you get this form and urgently need care — there are ways you can fight back: Write on the form that you are “signing under duress” and note the problem (e.g., “Emergency medicine facilities are not allowed to present this form”). Take a picture of the form

The new “good faith estimate” benefit applies anywhere you receive medical care. Once you book an appointment, the provider must give advance notice of what you could expect to pay without insurance (in other words, if you do not have insurance or choose not to use it). Your final bill may not exceed the estimate by more than $400 per provider. Theoretically, this gives patients a chance to lower their costs by shopping around or choosing not to pay with insurance. It is particularly appealing for patients with high-deductible insurance plans, but not exclusively: The so-called cash price of care can be cheaper than paying with insurance. Also: It wouldn’t hurt to ask if this is an all-inclusive price, not just a base price to which other incidental services may be added. It still falls to patients to determine whether medical care is covered. Before you find yourself in a treatment room, ask if the provider accepts your insurance — and be specific. Kelmar said the question to ask is, “Are you in my insurance plan’s network?” Provide the plan name or group number on your insurance card. The reality is, your insurance company has a bunch of different plans, each with its own network. One network may cover a certain provider; another may not. 

June 2022 • The Senior Voice • 7

It's Called the

FoCo Cafe By Meg Dunn

If you’ve ever eaten at the FoCo Cafe in Fort Collins, then you’ve been inside the old Continental Oil Company office and warehouse. This unassuming building is not only home to one of Fort Collins’ most innovative lunch spots, but it’s also a locally designated historic landmark. The Continental Oil and Transportation Company was founded in Ogden, Utah in 1875. It delivered kerosene by railroad to communities throughout the West. Around 1913, the company set up a small office near the Colorado & Southern Railway line in Fort Collins. Though there are no tracks running past the building now, there used to be a siding (a low-speed section of connecting track) that ran along the east side of the property (where the alley is today). When a train would arrive with a shipment of oil, the employees of the company would use the small loading dock on the east side of the warehouse to bring in the drums of oil. Then they’d lower them down to the basement of the building using a freight elevator. You can still see the freight elevator if you visit. It’s immediately on your left as you enter the café. In 1929, the Continental Oil Company was renamed Conoco. Conoco continued to operate in this location until 1980, when

Fugate Oil took over. And from 1995 to 2005, the Haiston Oil Company used the building. Then the site sat vacant for a few years. The City purchased the property in 2008 and began leasing the place to the FoCo Cafe in 2014. The abbreviation “FoCo” in the café’s name stands for “Feed Our Community Ourselves.” The small restaurant was founded by Jeff and Kathleen Baumgardner who had a dream of providing healthy, locally sourced food to the community. The non-profit café works on a pay-what-you-can system where, if you can’t pay, you can volunteer your time to cover the cost of your meal. Jeff and Kathleen have since retired, but the café carries on under the care of their former intern, Mallory Garneau. We often assume that historic buildings should be grand and ornate, but the Continental Oil Company property is a great example of a simple workhorse of a building that plays an integral role in telling the story of where we’ve been while continuing to be an important part of who we are today. The café is open for lunch from 11am-2pm Monday - Friday. Swing by and enjoy a delicious, healthy meal in the ambiance of Fort Collins history. 

FoCo Cafe. Photo by Meg Dunn.

COLORADO HOAs By Brittany Freeman Rocky Mountain PBS Colorado lawmakers passed a bill recently aimed at protecting residents in disputes with their homeowners associations (HOA). The bill limits HOAs from seeking foreclosure against homeowners who accumulate fines for violating community rules known as covenants. The bill also stops HOAs from assessing penalties on a daily basis and limits them to $500. Bill co-sponsor James Coleman said, “As it currently stands, Coloradans have little recourse and almost no protections when facing down the endless resources held by associations and the lawyers they may hire.” An analysis of court cases by Rocky Mountain PBS found that Colorado HOAs have filed at least 2,400 foreclosure cases against residents since 2018. Many homeowners who faced foreclosure have told Rocky Mountain PBS and ProPublica that they ultimately ended up paying thousands of

dollars more than their original debts to save their homes because the HOA billed them legal fees. The newly passed legislation contains several measures that supporters said would give homeowners due process before delinquencies end up in court. It requires several notifications to residents about delinquencies and fines, and it allows residents the opportunity to seek longer payment plans to repay debts to the HOA. Representatives from the HOA industry oppose the legislation. They say it would make it harder to enforce their rules. The bill’s supporters said a provision that opens up small claims court as a venue for disputes could also make a big difference for homeowners who cannot afford to hire an attorney to fight their HOA. “The disputes that are creating all of the heat within HOAs finally have a place to go,” said homeowner advocate Andrew Mowery. See www.leg.colorado.gov/ bills/hb22-1137. 

8 • The Senior Voice • June 2022

COLORADO CROSSWORDS 1

A F R E D N 16R I C E A 19I S H E R 22I S T O 24 T N C 31 32 33 34 Y O U T H 37 38 N O T R U 41 E U N I O N T 44A L V A 48 P R E E N 51 V F W E C H 57I 58E 59F 62 R A MM O D 65L A I R 68 E E M T S

ACROSS 1 Manning and Wallach 5 First American President born outside the continental United States 10 MacMurray or Flinstone 14 “Take” partner 15 The “u” in HUD 16 ______ Pilaf 17 11th Century Persian poet: ______ Khayyam 18 It has been described as “a horse in pajamas” 19 “Am I correct or _____ _____ ?” 20 Mountain range in southern Colorado 23 Sushi roll ingredient, often 24 The Nature Conservancy, in a text 25 Some Greek letters 28 The NFL’s Cowboys on a scoreboard 31 Young people 35 Change course 36 Weld County town named by using the first two letters of three individuals 38 1989 play adapted from the works of Truman Capote 39 Annual address to Congress 42 Actor Beatty who starred in “Deliverance” 43 “The thrill of victory....the agony of ______.” 44 Colorado governor elected three times: ____ Adams 45 Nabisco items in the cookie aisle 47 America’s oldest college daily newspaper from New Haven, CN (abbr.) 48 Dress smartly with attention to being well groomed 49 Pot pie veggie 51 Large veteran’s service org. (briefly) 52 Music played at the funerals of JFK, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush 60 Potter’s equipment used for drying or baking 61 Outer suburb of London, England 62 Bullets, etc. 63 “I’m doomed! Woe _____ _____ !” 64 “ _____ _____ of buffalo was just up ahead.”

L O H A N

H E R B T H E Y 55

A C T E D 29

S E R G 23 E 25 26 27 I O T A 35 T U R N 39 S T A T 42 N E D 45 46 O R E O 49 P 52 53 H A I 60 K I L N 63 I S M E 66 T S A R 4

65 Wild animal’s place of shelter 66 Russian leader prior to 1917 67 It’s not a sure thing DOWN 1 Self images 2 Succotash bean 3 Writers Turgenev or Doig 4 Army rank above Corporal 5 RMNP waterfall, ______ Falls 6 Show dogs are ______ to be champions 7 Clergyman of France 8 Antony or Chagall 9 “Tying fishing flies is _____ _____ of itself.” 10 Summit County town near Copper Mountain 11 Canyon near Ft. Collins 12 Natural feature at the base of Mount Evans: ___ Lake 13 Brown who wrote “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: 21 Literary device whereby an author starts in the middle of the plot or action: “in media’s _____” 22 “I have complete faith _____ _____!” 25 “You can bunk with us. _____ _____ problem.” 26 Word before “space” or “limits” 27 Career; job often using one’s hands 28 Famous duck 29 Performed on the stage 30 American actress of “The Parent Trap” Lindsay ____ 32 Useful 33 Collection of valuable things 34 Type of Chinese cuisine known for being hot and spicy 36 The second wife of Leadville’s Horace Tabor: Baby __ 37 This is often cut down by the championship team 40 Discontinued brand named for son of Henry Ford 41 “Unicorn of the seas” found in Arctic waters 46 One who is glad to share his points of view 48 Third lowest army rank (briefly) 50 Varsity 51 National park near the four corners area: Mesa ____ 52 Melodrama audience reaction 53 Park County neighbor of Fairplay 54 Gov’t. gp. monitoring workplace safety 55 Nebulous group often cited by the expression “ ______ say”.... 56 Basil or cilantro 57 Mosque prayer leader 58 Give off as a scent 59 Voters who vote “aye” 60 Christopher Carson, to his friends

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June 2022 • The Senior Voice • 9

New Museum in Greeley By Sarah Saxe Museum Manager

The City of Greeley Museums’ staff announces the renaming of the Greeley History Museum’s main gallery to the Peggy Ford Waldo Gallery in honor of the late historian. Museum staff and Ford Waldo’s family participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a private reception held to formally rededicate the gallery. In the Peggy Ford Waldo Gallery, visitors explore the history of Greeley, including the

formation of the Union Colony, the area’s agricultural heritage, water usage, and expansion over time. Ford Waldo spent countless hours researching and writing text for this exhibit and many others. “Peggy’s thirst for knowledge and her devotion to her community were inspirational,” said Sarah Saxe, museums manager. “She certainly made a lasting influence on my life and career, and I’m sure that is true for everyone who attended the reception. We hope that by renaming the gallery, Peggy’s immense

BOOSTER SHOTS By Liz Szabo - NBC News Even as top U.S. health officials say it’s time America learns to live with the coronavirus, leading researchers say faulty messaging on booster shots has left millions of older people at serious risk. Approximately 1 in 3 Americans 65 and older who completed their initial vaccination round still have not received a first booster shot, according to the government’s Centers for Disease (CDC). The numbers have dismayed researchers, who note this age group continues to be at the highest risk for serious illness and death from covid-19. The failure to boost more of this group has resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of lives, said researcher Dr. Eric Topol. “The booster program has been botched from day one,” he said. “This is one of the most important issues for the American

pandemic, and it has been mismanaged.” Most health care providers don’t have the technology to securely track which patients have been vaccinated and schedule follow-up shots, say researchers. Nor are there financial incentives for doctors to get their patients vaccinated and boosted. Most health care providers don’t have the technology to securely track which patients have been vaccinated and schedule follow-up shots. Nor are there financial incentives for doctors to get their patients vaccinated and boosted. Some researchers attributed the slowdown to the initial disagreement among health leaders over the value of booster. Topol said it’s not too late for federal leaders to look at what’s working — and not — and to relaunch the booster effort. 

Officials at the museum opening. Photo Museum Staff. contributions to Greeley will be recognized and that her legacy will live on.” Ford Waldo began her 41 years of service to the City of Greeley Museums in 1979, holding various positions throughout her tenure, including research and education coordinator, programming curator, and development curator. She generously shared her knowledge with genealogists, writers, historians, and students of all ages, compiling, organizing, and making accessible Greeley Museums’ extensive archival collection. Ford Waldo regularly contributed to local publications and collaborated on works such as “The Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra: A Century of Musical Magic,” “Weld County: 4,000 Square Miles of Grandeur, Greatness &

Yesterdays,” and her last book, “Bears in the Backyard: The Story of Greeley’s University District.” Ford Waldo twice received the Josephine H. Miles Award for excellence in history, presented by History Colorado. The Greeley History Museum showcases and preserves Greeley and Weld County’s history through permanent and temporary exhibitions, educational programs, research, and collections. Check out the museum’s main exhibit, “Utopia: Adaptation on the Plains,” and then head over to one of the museum’s other galleries, which include rotating themes throughout each year. For information, contact Sarah.Saxe@greeleygov.com or call 970.350.9218. 

10 • The Senior Voice • June 2022

A dirt road in Baca County, Colorado. Photo by Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer.

A Dust Bowl Road Trip By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer

I haven’t been exactly sure how to approach writing about our Dust Bowl Road Trip. There is a lot to unpack here (to use a phrase popular in today’s lexicon). It was an adventure and it was eye-opening on many levels. We made several unexpected stops that included a blown out tire in Colorado or Oklahoma (we’re not sure). I’ve decided against a dayby-day account. I think I’ll hop around a bit; however, I am going to start here in Colorado. If you’d like to know what inspired this somewhat unusual road trip, please read “A Dust Bowl Road Trip: The Reasons Why.” I had no idea that Colorado was part of the Dust Bowl until I saw the exhibit at History Colorado, a very good Denver museum. During that visit a number of years ago, I learned Baca County, in the southeast corner of Colorado, was impacted by the infamous dust.

Baca County is bordered by New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas. Springfield is the largest town, population 1,381 (2020). To say the county is rural, would be an understatement. It’s not a place to run out of gas or get a flat tire, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

Through a friend of a friend, we had found a place to stay. Off the radar and a long way from anywhere, the guesthouse at Canyon Journeys is located on the Everett Ranch next to what’s thought to be the oldest house in Baca County, probably built in the 1890s. The guesthouse isn’t a spring chicken either. Built as the post office for the area around 1915, the story is here. Today, it’s a place where hunters, birders and other travelers can hang their hat for $100 per night (and there’s no charge for the dog). Down a long, dusty road, a startled blue heron flew up from a wet spot that crosses the road just before we entered the ranch property. Cows, including plenty of

babies, milled around on this open range ranch.

A herd of barking dogs greeted us as we rolled to a stop in front of the stucco and wood guesthouse. The ranch is home to lots of border collies and Pam, the resident ranch dog that loves people and belly scratches. Happily, Fritzi, along on this Dust Bowl journey, jumped out of the truck and after a long sniffing session, got along with all the dogs, although she did bark at a barn cat. Laneha Everett, with her son on her hip, met us and gave us the lay of the land while the dogs milled around at our feet. This is a working ranch, Laneha and her husband, Casey, run it along with Casey’s parents. Laneha and Casey live next to the guesthouse in the oldest house in Baca County. The ranch has been in the Everett family since 1941. The family remodeled the post office, which has served as storage and a bunkhouse, for guests in 2008. Equipped with a small

kitchen that has everything, even a toaster, the guesthouse has a bathroom and a bed. Up the ladder in the loft, there’s another bunk-style bed. A propane stove and large, comfy chair in the corner round out the accouterments. It reminded me of a slightly bigger “tiny house” on the prairie. Although Baca County isn’t the prairie and is surprisingly diverse when it comes to elevation. Fifty minutes away in Springfield, we ate dinner. The guesthouse is technically in Pritchett; but the town, about 30 minutes from the ranch, is almost void of humans. Inside the guesthouse, cozy in bed, with the lights off, I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. I also noticed that all my other senses seemed heightened, including smell, and the scent of freshly washed sheets filled my nostrils. 

June 2022 • The Senior Voice • 11

MEMORIES in

Poudre Canyon By Lois Hall Some people remember when Stan and Lola Case owned the Arrowhead Lodge in Poudre Canyon years ago. Their daughters Christy French and Sandy Lundt remembered The old days when their mother was known for making delicious pies and fried chicken dinners many canyon residents enjoyed. Their father, an electrical engineer, was the director of Fort Col-

lins utilities and drove down the canyon most days. The girls went to Fort Collins once a week for piano lessons, and each served as the pianist for Poudre Chapel. They also attended the one-room Eggers School building that was preserved next to Poudre Chapel. “We had all grades in one room,” they recalled. “Our largest group was 12. It was quite a shock when we began attending high school in Fort Collins.”

Arrowhead Lodge. Photo by Bill Lambdin. Although the sisters later lived in Fort Collins, they still had a house in the canyon where their families met, and they maintained strong ties to that community.

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“We think we had the best childhood possible growing up in those beautiful mountains,” they said. “We made so many lifelong friends and so many precious memories.” 

12 • The Senior Voice • June 2022

Gimme a Drink IN OLD GREELEY (Editor’s Note: Greeley historian Hazel E. Johnson this story years ago.) Some Greeley residents in the 1800s would travel all the way to Denver for a fling because liquor was not permitted in Greeley. Every property deed had a statement that said: “It is expressly agreed that intoxicating liquor shall never be sold or given away in any place of public resort.” That was because the town’s founder, Nathan Meeker, brought the first settlers here with the expressed intent of establishing an agricultural community where drinking was not allowed. One young farm hand was described as hard working and honest, but he liked a drink now and then.

Periodically he would tell his employer that he was going to Denver for the weekend. His employer knew the man would return with a hangover, but he was willing to overlook these lapses because of the young man’s exemplary work habits. One Saturday, he made one of his Denver trips and really hung one on. He had a considerable sum of money with him and he knew that bartenders would not hesitate to rob someone who passed out in their establishments. So before going out, he took steps to thwart this. He found a rooming house, went to his room and took several large bills from his pocket. He removed the castors from

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the iron bedstead and into each cavity he inserted the bills. Then he replaced the castors and took off for the saloon and an evening’s celebration.

enough. He staggered out of the saloon to return to his rooming house.

The plan worked until, toward morning, he decided he’d had

He never found the room—or his money. 

But he had forgotten the address.

June 2022 • The Senior Voice • 13

Steamboat Springs A scene near Steamboat Springs. Photographer unknown.

HIKING By Peggy Hunt Parkview Mountain Trail is a moderate ten-mile roundtrip, day hike east of Steamboat Springs and about 35 miles southwest of Walden. You climb to the 12,300-foot summit of Parkview Mountain and along the highest point of the Rabbit Ears Mountain Range. You should see elk and fewer hikers here than in many other parts of Colorado. You also have fine views of North Park and Middle Park, huge ranching valleys between the mountain ranges of northern Colorado. You can see most of the Continental Divide that runs through northern Colorado here. If the weather is clear, you can see all the way to Wyoming’s Medicine Bow Range and, with binoculars, the sand dunes at the south base of that range.

To the east lie the Never Summer Range and the high peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park. Also to the east is the Walden area, which contains the largest moose herds in Colorado. To reach the trailhead, go south of Walden on Highway 125 to the top of Willow Creek Pass. Just over the pass about one-half mile, you can park along the second timber road on your right, walk up the road to a small stream, turn right, then left where the road forks, and start your climb. Another hike, the Wyoming Trail, is a long 40-mile hike along the Continental Divide, north from Buffalo Pass through the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area and into the Medicine Bow National Forest just across the Wyoming border. This trail is above treeline much of the way and difficult to follow in places. So get a good

map from the Hahns Peak Ranger District. You can shorten the hike by going only part way to Seedhouse Road near the village of Clark.

Local ranchers use part of the Wyoming Trail, and you might see cattle as well as deer and elk. You will certainly see some of Colorado’s finest backcountry and enjoy views of mountain ranching and hunting areas. This part of the state is especially colorful in autumn when the aspen turn gold and the oakbrush deep red, transforming entire mountain sides into bright, living canvases. Other good hikes in the Steamboat area include the one to Luna Lake, where you will find good fishing in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area. Many trails take off from Seedhouse Road (Forest Service

Road 400), including those leading to Gilpin Lake, Gold Creek Lake and Three Island Lake. The trail to Dome Lake is an especially good backpacking trip where you can climb an 11,740-foot giant monolith called the Dome. Fish Creek Falls near Steamboat is a spectacular 283-foot waterfall that many people drive to. You can view it from above by hiking Fish Creek Falls Trail, which also continues along the Continental Divide to another group of waterfalls and some good camp sites. The Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area north of Steamboat offers many less crowded trails. Hikes here include those to Gold Creek Lake, Iceland Lake and Mica Lake, all of which offer good fishing and wildlife viewing. 

14 • The Senior Voice • June 2022

Estate Planning By Ron Rutz, Attorney Q: Does your ownership and beneficiary designations match up with what your Will provides? A: Every five years or so I send out a letter to my Will clients offering a free review or update of their estate plan. Very seldom are there Will adjustments. But in looking at current ownership and beneficiary designations, suddenly the overall estate plan needs adjustments. If ownership or beneficiary designations do not reflect what is stated in the Will, the Will provisions do not override the beneficiary designation or joint ownership. It doesn’t matter what your Will says. The property flows outside of the Will. Clients often are convinced that the beneficiary designations are correct. But when they check again, they find that it “ain’t so.”

Another point involves “the deferred” investments (such as IRAs, etc.) having the proper designations to the proper recipients. Otherwise a tax must be paid on all of the accumulated but undistributed income if the beneficiary payout is not right. Thus as an example – the spouse is named as the primary beneficiary and the children are named with the term “per stirpes” added. Then each qualified recipient, including the children of a deceased child, can elect to rollover their share into a qualified rollover IRA and avoid paying immediately tax on the income. When your attorney offers a free review, accept it even if you are sure that your Will “is perfectly fine.” (Email rutz@ronaldrutz.com. Call 970.223.8388 in Loveland. His articles appear monthly.) 

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June 2022 • The Senior Voice • 15

LAU G HTE R : BEST M ED I C IN E

Things your mother taught you:

side. I just finished cleaning!”

Religion: “You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”

Foresight: “Make sure you wear clean underwear in case you’re in an accident.”

Logic: “Because I said so, that’s why!”

Weather: “It looks as if a tornado swept through your room.”

Time Travel: “If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”

The Circle of Life: “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”

Irony: “Keep laughing and I’ll give you something to cry about.”



Osmosis: “Shut your mouth and eat your supper!” Contortionism: “Will you look at the dirt on the back of your neck!” Stamina: “You’ll sit there until all that spinach is finished.” Behavior Modification: “Stop acting like your father.” A Job Well Done: “If you’re going to kill each other, do it out-

A young man was walking through a supermarket picking up a few things when he noticed a lady following him around. Thinking nothing of it, he ignored her and continued shopping. When he went to the checkout line, she got in front of him. “Pardon me,” she said. “I’m sorry if my staring at you has made you feel uncomfortable. It’s just that you look exactly like my son, who died recently.”

“I’m sorry,” said the man. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Yes,” she said. “As I’m leaving, would you say ‘Good bye, Mother.’ It would make me feel much better.” “Sure,” answered the young man. As she walked away from the checkout counter, he said, “Goodbye, Mother.” When he paid his bill, the total was over $300. “How can that be?” he said. “I bought only a few things!” The clerk said, “Your mother said you would pay for her.”

What goes up must come down, but don’t expect it to land where you can find it.

From comedienne Lily Tom-

You are what you think. That’s frightening.

The trouble with the rat race is that, even if you win, you’re still a rat.

No matter how cynical you get, it’s impossible to keep up..

 lin:

Sometimes I worry about being a success in a mediocre world.

Why do advertisers choose The Senior Voice? People ages 50 to 60 have MORE SPENDABLE INCOME than any other age group. (U.S. Consumer Research Center)

Over 73% of them read newspapers and magazines. (Scarborough Research)

Northern Colorado’s 55 to 60 population increased over 80% in the past 10 years. (U.S. Census Bureau).

They read The Senior Voice every month. Call 970.229.9204 www.theseniorvoice.net

16 • The Senior Voice • June 2022

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